Chapter 8
Bernard grumbled in the corner as128Please respect copyright.PENANAc15CMMq34S
he cleaned the vomit from off his shoe. Another servant had been summoned to128Please respect copyright.PENANA89FqlxsetZ
clean up the mess while Vander was given some water to drink. The rancid smell128Please respect copyright.PENANAMtbuMD9el0
from the King’s chest hadn’t left his nose and it was making him woozy.
“What happened in here?” Peyton128Please respect copyright.PENANAqi7OX2OLxp
asked. Topal spent some time explaining everything that the two of them had128Please respect copyright.PENANA3N62CEKPl8
discovered while Vander hugged the bucket.
“So, there were two things put128Please respect copyright.PENANAf3pFFhh7kn
together that caused this mess.” Bernard sighed. “Is there anyway to cure him?”
“Doctor.” Vander closed his mouth128Please respect copyright.PENANAUNxHwvPuoD
to keep the bile from coming out. “I need you to start making the remedy for128Please respect copyright.PENANAc2OKyYPkOR
him, please.” He wheezed. “I don’t think I can take much more of the smell.” He128Please respect copyright.PENANAeTaWKWPb3B
pulled a trash bucket closer to him just in case he needed it.
“I’ve never dealt with his kind of128Please respect copyright.PENANAiB8bGsN3Lw
poison before.” Topal shook his head. “I have no idea how to fix it. You128Please respect copyright.PENANAAPQW15gCXu
figured it out, do you have any notion?” Vander closed his eyes allowing the128Please respect copyright.PENANAbQ1BnsV3jb
smell to envelope him. Despite being the Deity of Beasts, Unna’s gifts came128Please respect copyright.PENANAPTJWkiycu8
with another perk. It allowed him to work wonders with poisons and their cures,128Please respect copyright.PENANAjIChXujl23
a leftover from how close she is with her aunt, Lyshena.
“We need something to strengthen128Please respect copyright.PENANAoANDPO2IPW
and clear his lungs.” Vander’s voice sounded far away. “Take some wild128Please respect copyright.PENANAKT0v7rjDQS
cherries, horehound, and mullein, then boil a pot of boiling sea water. All the128Please respect copyright.PENANAK3N7wL8Nep
King to inhale the vapors until he coughs out all the black goo covering his128Please respect copyright.PENANAirzuv7XDO4
lungs. To wake him up, you will need to soak him in a tub filled with more salt128Please respect copyright.PENANANn3pz4B5kE
water and lavender extract. He should recover.” Vander slumped forward then128Please respect copyright.PENANAkJbTkCHi0a
jerked to the left filling the bucket with more vomit.
“Are you sure?” Bernard asked.128Please respect copyright.PENANADCBIpEvljd
“That seems like a very simple remedy for something like this.”
“It’s not simple at all.” Topal128Please respect copyright.PENANA9eW4fqVtOS
shook his head. “I never would have thought to sting these together to cure a128Please respect copyright.PENANACnOr1Bl9Fh
poison. I would have looked for a cure all and likely would have flailed around128Please respect copyright.PENANAsxGNMBGQWZ
while he died under my care.”
“Are you blessed by Lyshena?”128Please respect copyright.PENANABsz7hLUta7
Bernard asked. He checked over his shoe before grunting in appreciation. He128Please respect copyright.PENANAOEjIZhr6RO
might have been a stick in the mud, but he knew how to clean up. “That’s the128Please respect copyright.PENANAs70zVscMEA
only way this would make sense.”
“You can’t tell anyone about128Please respect copyright.PENANA1nKyALwLFv
this.” Vander said. He shared a knowing glance with Topal. “He doesn’t want128Please respect copyright.PENANAUGjmwZcr5t
special treatment because of who he is blessed by, I hope you will keep the128Please respect copyright.PENANA4SYZChs06q
secret.”
“If it helps me save Malcolm’s128Please respect copyright.PENANAE7Kqr9FOm6
life, I will keep this secret to the grave.” Topal smiled. “And if Bernard128Please respect copyright.PENANASteWf2TYsZ
doesn’t, I know how to get rid of a body.” Bernard choked on his saliva,128Please respect copyright.PENANAGZkQuXrDt4
coughing until his face turned bright red.
“That’s uncalled for.” He laughed.128Please respect copyright.PENANAFiz8EV3yQn
“I can keep a secret; you don’t have to worry about me.” There was quick knock128Please respect copyright.PENANAtHcW8ONum0
before Charles opened the door to slip back inside.
“What did you find out?” Vander128Please respect copyright.PENANAqoSCLKShPb
got up from the table to stand by his grandfather.
“No one has seen the taste tester128Please respect copyright.PENANAsvrWwrzm0q
since the night the King fell ill.” Charles explained. “We should go down to128Please respect copyright.PENANAGk1f0d14oJ
the servants’ quarters and check up on him.”
“I forgot,” Bernard snapped his128Please respect copyright.PENANAbjZYfIiJ62
fingers. “There was a third person with me to visit Malcolm, a new servant.”
“Why didn’t you mention this128Please respect copyright.PENANAQwHp3O4sxn
before?” Peyton turned to the man anger rising in his voice.
“I didn’t think he was important.”128Please respect copyright.PENANAyxd5GQX57f
Bernard shot back. “I just remembered I left the tea in his hands while I128Please respect copyright.PENANA07xGwxOFe8
opened the door. I didn’t think there was enough time for him to slip something128Please respect copyright.PENANAaFqVkCpy03
into it, but, thinking back on it, he had it long enough to slip something into128Please respect copyright.PENANAThwcmpPP8W
it. How much was needed to poison the King?”
“A small amount, any amount.”128Please respect copyright.PENANA9bb293CpLO
Vander said. “As long as it was ingested at the same time as the ocecrest, it128Please respect copyright.PENANA6L80P8b8Es
would have done the trick.”
“Do you know who it was?” Charles128Please respect copyright.PENANAHywyBKb2hm
asked. “The name of the servant?”
“The king likes to meet any new128Please respect copyright.PENANAjluMmvjzz4
worker to get their story as well as their struggle.” Bernard folded his arms128Please respect copyright.PENANAcxpIBTztVs
over his chest. “I believe his name was Nigel. He should be living in the same area128Please respect copyright.PENANAoMA3DFzsRC
as the tester who is named Ulysses. I will help Topal get the items needed to128Please respect copyright.PENANAdb7XW06KWG
cure the King, you find the people that could be responsible for this.”
“Let’s go, Vander.” Charles went128Please respect copyright.PENANARFTxcj0PlS
to help Vander up, but he clutched the bucket and emptied the rest of his128Please respect copyright.PENANAZOmSfbAQsd
stomach contents inside.
“Get him out of here.” Bernard128Please respect copyright.PENANAiA37fAxE9d
looked quite green himself, so Charles pulled Vander outside, making sure to128Please respect copyright.PENANAPqSzsZYLou
leave the bucket in the room.
Vander was grateful for the fresh128Please respect copyright.PENANAb7qWVmQG21
air that being in the hallway brought. He leaned up against the wall breathing128Please respect copyright.PENANA0elmMa7xbc
its cool crisp air. Charles looked at him sadly. “I never knew how much this128Please respect copyright.PENANAQpe4Uq8j5F
curse affected you. Seeing you like this just-“
“Don’t worry about it, Gramps.” He128Please respect copyright.PENANAIg8dLbJ7L3
pushed off from the wall then clasped his grandfather’s shoulder. “It has more128Please respect copyright.PENANAFhJdXNsUKv
perks than drawbacks. Let’s get going.”
As he walked, the feeling of128Please respect copyright.PENANAbu9VjxrRMo
becoming himself gradually returned. Chanelling the abilities of Unna, no128Please respect copyright.PENANAChs9hw2k5g
matter how small, always took it out of him, but this was the first time he128Please respect copyright.PENANAB5dVpEkaYF
felt quite so rough afterwards. He was going to have to do something that would128Please respect copyright.PENANAV1pZOAEJXy
return the blessing she had given him, but she didn’t accept anything other128Please respect copyright.PENANAfjtbjLlwmL
than sex or a blood sacrifice. He didn’t want to bring Julianna back into this,128Please respect copyright.PENANAFeXRm0TYaT
so the only other option was to visit the pits, something he avoided as much as128Please respect copyright.PENANAEu9WE835t3
possible, but if he didn’t he could lose more than just his mind by ignoring128Please respect copyright.PENANACJjQK1NO6I
the deities’ needs. It had happened before when he was younger, and it couldn’t128Please respect copyright.PENANAoY0g3wQCFr
happen again.
Charles had told128Please respect copyright.PENANAiuh1lPC1GX
him what had been going on since the past month or so within the Kingdom. Many128Please respect copyright.PENANATgN7wd1Hyh
of the Blades had been dispatched to the Warden’s to bring them here, which was128Please respect copyright.PENANAOiNjSSYSO9
the main reason there were more soldiers guarding the keep recently. The soldiers128Please respect copyright.PENANAKwOMgW6uzF
were on high alert and were making everyone uncomfortable, but they were doing128Please respect copyright.PENANA8VoH4olQHD
their job, not willing to risk the wrath of the King if anything went wrong.128Please respect copyright.PENANA8sxbeQWOjo
Merchants came from all over to offer their services to the crown ranging from128Please respect copyright.PENANAqjw4Ecgmg7
food to decorations and, in some instances, jewelry for the eventual Queen. A128Please respect copyright.PENANAgrSEjd80t1
lot of those were centered within the Grand Ballroom.
They arrived at128Please respect copyright.PENANAc2ugUHNTyt
the Grand Ballroom where many of the servants were stationed for the next few128Please respect copyright.PENANAMBf71p3MkE
days as they prepared for the prince and his new bride’s arrival. It appears128Please respect copyright.PENANA3lIG5QfaSZ
the kingdom was spared to expense for this extravagant part as everyone of128Please respect copyright.PENANAB0lUQcDEAe
importance from all over the Kingdom was visiting, The walls on the left half128Please respect copyright.PENANAymAixE8KLn
were being draped in brilliant red and gold banners with Atza’s symbol, the128Please respect copyright.PENANAkCE3KWKFVh
lioness with a golden crown on her head. The right half was being draped with128Please respect copyright.PENANAMF3QwYM78d
cool blue and white banners with Humjir’s symbol, and the Elan family crest, a128Please respect copyright.PENANADmLVAPcS8Y
white dove with an olive crown on its head. The symbolic nature of the marriage128Please respect copyright.PENANAlPWAjqblyF
between two rival countries wasn’t lost on anyone and they were taking great128Please respect copyright.PENANAkBqchUWtPN
care not to offend either deity.
“Where should we128Please respect copyright.PENANAx6iVugbJGD
start?” Charles looked around the room with a troubled expression on his face. There128Please respect copyright.PENANAt0SGj9Egnb
were too many people to question as they were looking for two people, albeit128Please respect copyright.PENANALpBsWYwuj2
important, but around here, anyone could disappear if they wished it. Vander128Please respect copyright.PENANAdQAEFwyRGS
spotted the servant who seemed to be in charge, an older gray-haired woman128Please respect copyright.PENANAOtQhdEhNm4
holding a clipboard, quill, and bottle of ink. There were two other servants128Please respect copyright.PENANAMIEwGzwK6X
standing next to her ready to carry out her orders.
“We start with128Please respect copyright.PENANAnbdiT4PsZu
her.” Vander nodded towards his grandfather.
“With Beatrice?”128Please respect copyright.PENANAb8yTcXPtcP
Charles frowned. “She is Bernard’s right hand and his sister. If anyone knew128Please respect copyright.PENANANx4vUm7EBP
where those two are, it would be here. Let’s go talk to her.” The two of them128Please respect copyright.PENANACa1XAamGqN
walked over as she started yelling orders:
“Make sure those128Please respect copyright.PENANA8NLnF677EL
banners are crease free,” she snapped. “I won’t have this place looking unkept128Please respect copyright.PENANA0KHTSXS5bs
for when the prince and princess arrive.” She turned around to see two female128Please respect copyright.PENANATZ5sYms6ke
servants leaning up against the wall whispering to each other. “You two, if you128Please respect copyright.PENANAkGkOPgOMTr
are done for the day you can go home, and I’ll dock your pay!”
“Sorry ma’am.”128Please respect copyright.PENANA5NwfTwPb1L
They curtsied then went back to folding their napkins.
“As for you two.”128Please respect copyright.PENANAtAd6l53B00
She didn’t even turn around to greet them. “What can I do for the Blades this128Please respect copyright.PENANAKuaHL2q431
morning? As you can see I am quite busy so make this quick.”
“We are looking128Please respect copyright.PENANAlXYbiHB4Lt
for two servants and we are wondering if you have seen them around?” She looked128Please respect copyright.PENANA3XdEYJXCEM
up at Vander from under her wire rimmed glasses.
“I’ve seen many128Please respect copyright.PENANAGKNDbB95C4
servants, be more specific.” She demanded.
“Nigel and128Please respect copyright.PENANAUzDIN0cA6U
Ulysses.” She clicked her tongue, but then quickly scribbled a note then handed128Please respect copyright.PENANA7qpQi9fUdM
it over to the servant next to her. “Bring this to the baker quickly. I forgot128Please respect copyright.PENANAGBDo5ZoRkD
she needed our order.”128Please respect copyright.PENANA43EHJN0rG4
128Please respect copyright.PENANAOag14JPHNk
“Yes128Please respect copyright.PENANAOqpSj0Xstd
ma’am.” The servant bowed then scurried away.
“I haven’t seen128Please respect copyright.PENANAEyO3AvUy6B
Ulysses for a couple of weeks, something about being sick.” She explained. “I128Please respect copyright.PENANAYOgJAtm8VK
sent for the doctor, but there was nothing he could do for him. As for Nigel,128Please respect copyright.PENANAwUamYqgEks
he should be in the kitchen helping the cooks. Why?”
“Thank you.”128Please respect copyright.PENANAl6bl9yhIgR
Vander and Charles ran towards the door that would lead downstairs and towards128Please respect copyright.PENANAdAdecBAaip
the kitchen leaving a confused Beatrice standing behind them.
“Blades.” she128Please respect copyright.PENANASpZv7AjGXx
muttered. She looked around to see more of her servants standing around, so she128Please respect copyright.PENANApHCO3wRuwY
walked over towards them.
“Do you think128Please respect copyright.PENANAQeXaDV5PF5
Ulysses is dead?” Charles asked once he knew they were out of ear shot.
“He might not128Please respect copyright.PENANARW9mYmAdQv
have had enough of the poison to render him comatose, but he could still get128Please respect copyright.PENANA2u1SbZpP6D
deathly ill from it.” Vander explained. “But let’s find Nigel first since he is128Please respect copyright.PENANAulMTbI8hNg
the one we suspect of the poison.”
“How do you want128Please respect copyright.PENANAsgbbx4Rm6E
to handle this?”
“You go in and128Please respect copyright.PENANAs67PVV5eib
talk to him.” Vander said. “He should be a little intimidated of you and if128Please respect copyright.PENANAFcSxlFc2SR
cornered, he will likely try to run. I will be there to keep him from escaping.128Please respect copyright.PENANAwRmVL91ipt
There is no telling what he might do, so be on your guard.”
“I know how to128Please respect copyright.PENANA3bOFmoh0UU
handle myself.” Charles scoffed. “You just worry about yourself.”
The two of them128Please respect copyright.PENANAHKGpgbh6Yw
made their way down towards the kitchens which you had to pass through to get128Please respect copyright.PENANApQ1LUgJJs7
to the servants’ quarters. There were other ways of getting there, but this was128Please respect copyright.PENANAUM55S37UJv
the most direct way from the King’s quarters. Despite the castle being large,128Please respect copyright.PENANA30u9qm2dAx
based on the sheer number of servants required, it wasn’t feasible to give them128Please respect copyright.PENANAz6Q74OSf90
their own room. Often there would be two or sometimes three servants per room128Please respect copyright.PENANAKWVdhK5zDr
segregated based on gender, thought nighttime activities between them wasn’t128Please respect copyright.PENANAkbAUWyHrgi
uncommon.
As they made128Please respect copyright.PENANA6wNTrohxon
their way into the kitchen, the head chef, known because of her oversized hat,128Please respect copyright.PENANAXINN6ek22k
was looking down at a piece of parchment with a quill in her hands. The others128Please respect copyright.PENANAUwoNlv5bBA
were bustling around her trying not to draw attention to themselves as they128Please respect copyright.PENANAiIDx5WS1e1
worked. It looked as though they were preparing for lunch as several of them128Please respect copyright.PENANA6kGi4czc1d
were chopping up raw pieces of meat on the counter while others were collecting128Please respect copyright.PENANAPyHAAtHXcA
vegetables to go into a stew. The two of them walked straight through, not even128Please respect copyright.PENANA3inxoOKyTm
bothering to greet the chef as they made their way towards the servant’s area.
As soon as the128Please respect copyright.PENANAoXtQTEgTn7
saw the first door, Vander knew they had hit a roadblock. The doors weren’t128Please respect copyright.PENANAsqAmoA0mZJ
labeled or named. They had no way of knowing which room belonged to Nigel or128Please respect copyright.PENANAZHMn8emWrv
Ulysses. Charles stood there frowning; how did they not know the quarters were128Please respect copyright.PENANA2yC06if8fn
like this? It was a major blunder, but perhaps not all was lost. Vander tried128Please respect copyright.PENANASiB0x6XBEf
each door to see if it was locked. Servants weren’t allowed to lock their doors128Please respect copyright.PENANAXKP54u9zQq
if they were needed, but he figured if one of them needed to hide something,128Please respect copyright.PENANAyGobuNniVj
they wouldn’t leave the door open for all to see. It was a huge gamble, but by128Please respect copyright.PENANAEzeC8BmdS8
the time he got to the last door, it paid off. It was locked and he could smell128Please respect copyright.PENANAMxd08N0V5d
something rip coming from inside.
“Watch the128Please respect copyright.PENANAYC1fXcSAvw
kitchen for me.” Vander whispered to his grandfather. Charles nodded his head128Please respect copyright.PENANAThTEU9clrY
then used his frame to block the view. Testing the door one more time just to128Please respect copyright.PENANAXq34COfdco
make sure it was locked; Vander shoulder checked the door several times until128Please respect copyright.PENANANhBAgz7eQk
he heard the latch break. Rubbing his aching shoulder, he kicked the remainder128Please respect copyright.PENANAbqnnzavGM7
open until it was hanging sideways. That’s when the full weight of rotting128Please respect copyright.PENANAwV4NruTJML
human hit him so hard he puked for the fourth time today. Charles heard him and128Please respect copyright.PENANAVlWc7HvPC4
came racing over.
“What in the name128Please respect copyright.PENANARHzxlrun1q
of Humjir is this?” Lying on one of the beds was a servant, Vander’s guess was128Please respect copyright.PENANA79DIjEttpM
Ulysses, who didn’t fare as well ingesting the poison because no one was128Please respect copyright.PENANAab0fHC7Lia
looking for him. His body had swelled up in death and his face was deep purple.128Please respect copyright.PENANAfVMo9YWA1X
He was shirtless showing off a physique that wasn’t normal for the serving128Please respect copyright.PENANAxwgz2pPF3E
class with scars crisscrossing his body. There still appeared to be evidence128Please respect copyright.PENANAC98aUytSme
that someone was still living in this room despite the stench due to the empty128Please respect copyright.PENANAUqiiINVWzX
plate with food that had molded, and clothing rumpled in the corner. How anyone128Please respect copyright.PENANA7F8sBHn7cE
could live like this was beyond him.
“Vander go get128Please respect copyright.PENANAQbODCglZUc
someone to seal off this room before you puke over anything else.” Charles128Please respect copyright.PENANAym8Uwk75hx
ordered. Thankfully for being allowed to leave he did as he was asked. Some of128Please respect copyright.PENANA7YFpXtNCsA
the servants who were on break were crowding the hallway curious to see what128Please respect copyright.PENANA8Z4TWmj7CN
was going on.
“Clear out of the128Please respect copyright.PENANAStUsJcYIqF
way.” Vander shouted. “Someone grab Blades who are walking around and tell them128Please respect copyright.PENANAdPfCaEbrW3
to come here.” When no one moved, he was forced to use his authority. “Now!” He128Please respect copyright.PENANAvPl4MtUy50
screamed. They scattered to do as they were ordered, but one stayed behind. He128Please respect copyright.PENANApuuYZDH9BL
was a tall man, muscular, with brown hair and green eyes. Upon seeing Vander,128Please respect copyright.PENANA1R7KDot1ZP
he froze.
“What are you128Please respect copyright.PENANAKfyhNyoQTm
doing down there?” he asked.
“Are you Nigel?”
“What’s it to128Please respect copyright.PENANAT7nBTWXbkO
you?” he asked.
“As Captain of128Please respect copyright.PENANAGYq1HobJxU
the Blades I am detaining you as a suspect in the murder of Ulysse’s.” he said.128Please respect copyright.PENANAOcYp94xARh
“Stay right there.” As a surprise to no one, Nigel bolted back the way he came.128Please respect copyright.PENANALYZJJTGOe4
Cursing to himself, Vander vaulted over the counter to give chase leaving a very128Please respect copyright.PENANANxqfedNwt9
irate chef picking up her paper covered in ink.
Nigel was fast.128Please respect copyright.PENANAGRLcLo1Lzf
He raced through the halls, ducking into doorways, and changing directions like128Please respect copyright.PENANA3GwyHKW9oy
some intimately familiar with the castle layout. It was one of the times Vander128Please respect copyright.PENANA3A8UhPsGBS
wished he had brought Shea with him despite the risk, but for now he was on his128Please respect copyright.PENANA8DxAwvyYnI
own. He knew that he was faster, but all of today’s activities were beginning128Please respect copyright.PENANABXPqXcmMXB
to take its toll on him. He was feeling weak and sluggish, but he didn’t dare128Please respect copyright.PENANAlRnZLf6vrQ
let Nigel get away, not when he held such vital clues. But no one knew the128Please respect copyright.PENANAiOKWxeXzqM
castle better than he did, so once he recognized where Nigel was going, the128Please respect copyright.PENANAGBVP148yec
gardens, Vander took a left up a flight of stairs. It leads to a balcony with128Please respect copyright.PENANAKMoyPF0gU8
open space which would give him the opportunity he needed. Once he saw that he128Please respect copyright.PENANAgWAaPV73F2
and Nigel were neck and neck, he willed his body forward, borrowing some energy128Please respect copyright.PENANAN4iwljUdUS
from Unna, then launched himself off the balcony and down towards Nigel.
The two of them128Please respect copyright.PENANAtmQtC5EHz8
collided and Vander was sent flying into the garden itself landing on a bush.128Please respect copyright.PENANAbgVKnsXsUK
If it had been the ground he would have been in trouble, but the worst he’d128Please respect copyright.PENANAE2KtI2ErwZ
have now was a couple of bruises on his back. He got to his feet then placed128Please respect copyright.PENANA3xgX49UC0x
his hand on the hilt of his sword. Nigel was groaning out in pain, slowly128Please respect copyright.PENANA58Xv3kg8ym
trying to get to his, but the hit he had just taken must have taken all the128Please respect copyright.PENANAqHKCDdAsbl
fight out of him.
“Alright, I’ll128Please respect copyright.PENANAvslX9vafmJ
come with you.” he gasped. Vander hauled him to his feet.
“Why did you have128Please respect copyright.PENANAdYTlLiWu70
to make this more difficult for yourself?” Vander asked.
“Because they128Please respect copyright.PENANAg3p81yer0G
will kill me if I talk.” Nigel groaned. Vander shoved him up against the wall.
“Who will?”
“You don’t know128Please respect copyright.PENANA9mx4CO4G2t
them.” Nigel grabbed his arm. “They will kill everyone I love, and they are in128Please respect copyright.PENANAd2KImnVxow
places of power you could only dream of.” His eyes widened as he stared at128Please respect copyright.PENANArYRlOYc8hP
someone standing behind them. “No.” Vander turned around, but something whizzed128Please respect copyright.PENANAw8CgMmiOST
right past his face. He felt something wet hit the side of his face. He turned128Please respect copyright.PENANAZGcaE0ALh4
around to see Nigel gurgling blood with two knives embedded in his throat. His128Please respect copyright.PENANA0j0P76uL0R
eyes grew wide as he mouthed the words: Run. He slumped to the ground dead.
“That wasn’t128Please respect copyright.PENANAjhqgb0otUU
smart.” Vander turned to face the assassin. They were wearing all black and128Please respect copyright.PENANAF4xyiICrxx
their faces were covered. They held two more knives in their hands along with a128Please respect copyright.PENANAsz6r3hRKJE
sword strapped to their backs. “Now you’re going to have to answer the128Please respect copyright.PENANAzQeEnTunEP
questions meant for him.” They tilted their heads but gripped the knives128Please respect copyright.PENANAgwNdMntlWQ
tightly. He made the first move. He drew128Please respect copyright.PENANAUBJhBOqvKC
his sword as he charged them. The assassin just brought their knives up to128Please respect copyright.PENANAx89XEi1a7A
deflect the shot. Their leg shot out hitting Vander in the knuckles causing him128Please respect copyright.PENANAgdLKiQR7kc
to yell out in pain then drop his sword.
He didn’t let128Please respect copyright.PENANACSennVFLLE
that stop him. He grabbed their wrist to keep one of the knives away from his128Please respect copyright.PENANAKoTHlD7yeM
body. Using his strength, he squeezed the wrist until they were forced to let128Please respect copyright.PENANAdrCGyMIYod
the knife go, then he brought his shoulder into their chest and threw them over128Please respect copyright.PENANAF37NAAV9BA
his back and onto the ground. However, their feet landed squarely protecting128Please respect copyright.PENANAjoqIzQ7g3k
them from hitting the cobblestone. In his surprise, Vander didn’t react quick128Please respect copyright.PENANA4bomgRl9nZ
enough when they flipped over him then wrapped their legs around his neck then128Please respect copyright.PENANAtYeCpLfnNI
began raining elbows on top of his head. He brought his arms up to deflect128Please respect copyright.PENANAM4joD89LJz
before deciding to charge into the wall. The assassin didn’t let up even as he128Please respect copyright.PENANAPqmbIHbMIo
jumped off the wall and landed on the ground. He heard the crack of their back128Please respect copyright.PENANAGRSTUEAEXw
as they landed, and their legs eased up their assault. Vander coughed and128Please respect copyright.PENANAPLVBmdEnRy
wheezed as he massaged his throat to breathe.
“Enough of this.”128Please respect copyright.PENANAMo2l8Xsjpd
The assassin groaned, but steadily made their way to their feet. They had a128Please respect copyright.PENANAZpe64m9dZt
soft voice, almost feminine, which confused him. He remembered the voice, but128Please respect copyright.PENANAMCCPNT957P
he couldn’t tell from where. They drew the sword from their back and held it in128Please respect copyright.PENANAVLASIXTmoh
Vander’s face. “I was supposed to leave you, but you’ve pissed me off enough.128Please respect copyright.PENANA5AqPWCAV1J
Die.” They lunged at him, but they left an opening for Vander to roll to the128Please respect copyright.PENANAuNUWorN5iL
side to grab his sword. He brought it up just in time to deflect the strike the128Please respect copyright.PENANAhdDmv5XEVB
assassin aimed at him. He punched their ribs causing them to stumble sideways.128Please respect copyright.PENANAHEkpsfm3zD
He then swept out their legs causing them to again fall on their back.
Two blurs sped128Please respect copyright.PENANAWTfoFYvTKu
out from their hand, and he was barely quick enough to dodge. He could smell128Please respect copyright.PENANApnIUTuXJ00
the poison emanating from them and he knew those weren’t something he wanted to128Please respect copyright.PENANAMHKC32gJ3P
get hit by. They got to their feet, but he could tell that they had been128Please respect copyright.PENANAHD1rf3Fs7k
injured.
“Come with me.”128Please respect copyright.PENANAN8ywW3bXoL
He said. “I can protect you.”
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“I don’t need128Please respect copyright.PENANAxPHavljJw4
your protection, Blade.” They hissed. “Eluvia has taken everything from me and128Please respect copyright.PENANAiyuW7HyBjM
soon, we will take everything from you.” The removed a small capsule from their128Please respect copyright.PENANAQx6vjgFxY5
pocket and smashed it on the ground. Black smoke erupted from inside causing128Please respect copyright.PENANAaks0o2zxsv
Vander to violently cough and fall to his knees. He tried to run out of the128Please respect copyright.PENANAuwjNcZlpfi
smoke, but his legs were leaden. The last thing he saw before passing out was128Please respect copyright.PENANAdyzDBdlWgC
the assassin jumped into the garden and disappearing from the sight.